Rotary speed actuated switch



July 10, 1956 K. GAYLORD ET AL ROTARY SPEED ACTUATED SWITCH Filed Dec. 21, 1955 R G TARY SPEED ACTUATED SWITCH James K. Gaylord and Adam E. Cieply, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignors to Gayiord Products, Incorporated, Chicagc, iii a corporation of Delaware Appiication December 21, 1953, Serial No. 399,260

6 Claims. (Cl. 200-80) This invention relates to improvements in a speed responsive electric switch and refers particularly to an electric switch which is responsive to the rotary speed of a body to break an electric circuit.

in copending application for Patent Serial Number 308,085, filed in the name of Lewis E. Thatcher, now Patent No. 2,678,977, issued May 18, 1954, a speed responsive electric switch is described which comprises one or more pivoted vanes which are rotated in a bath of fluid, the vane or vanes making electric contact with a conductive plate to complete an electric circuit when the vanes are stationary; the vanes breaking contact with said plate when the vanes are rotated; the breaking of said contact being accomplished by rocking the vane or vanes about their pivotal support as a result of the frictional force of the fluid upon the rotating vane or vanes.

In the present invention the same end result, as contempiated in said patent application, is accomplished in a different manner.

Briefly described, the present invention contemplates a container, at the bottom of which a conductive plate is positioned, the plate, in eifect, comprising one switch point or pole. A rotating body extends into said container, said body being associated with a collar by means of a cam, said collar being rotatable with said body and being movable relative to said body at right-angles to the plane of rotation of the body. The collar carries one or more vanes which are rigidly secured thereto, said vanes being disposed in contact with the conductive plate when the body is stationary to complete an electric circuit. The container carries a body of fluid above the plate into which the vanes extend.

The operation of the present invention depends upon the resistance of the fluid upon the vanes which causes the collar to be cammed in such direction at rightangles to its rotation to move the vanes away from and out of electrical contact with the conductive plate, thus, in effect, opening the switch.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing and following detailed description.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of the switch comprising the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the cam association of rotating body and the vane-supporting collar.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified vane-supporting collar showing a modified cam.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 indicates a substantially cup-shaped housing. Within the housing a boss 2 extends upwardly substantially centrally to provide a substantially annular space 3 within the housing. A closure 4 is adapted to be positioned over the mouth of the housing 1 and may be sealed thereto as indicated at 5 in Fig. 1 to substantially seal the annular compartment 3. The housing 1 and closure 4 are constructed ice of an insulating material such as hard rubber 1, plastic or the like.

The present invention is employed to control an electric circuit in response to the speed of rotation of a rotating body. One specific use to which the present invention may be put is that of a control switch for an anticreep device employed in conjunction with automotive vehicles, the control switch being operable in response to the translatory motion of the automobile. Of course, it is understood that the present invention may be used in other environments but for purposes of illustration its use in conjunction with an automotive vehicle will be described.

As a convenient means of correlating the translatory movement of the automobile with the switch the speedometer cable of the automobile may be employed as the actuating rotating body. The association of the speedometer cable with the remaining elements of the switch will be described hereinafter.

The bottom of the container 1 may extend downwardly in the form of a substantially conically tapered boss 6. In similar fashion a boss '7 may extend upwardly from the ciosure 4. The boss 6 is provided with an aperture at which is adapted to receive one end 9 of a flexible conduit 1t within which a speedometer cable 11 is positioned. The boss 6 is provided with a radial slot (not shown) which extends into the aperture 8 and a clamp 12 embraces the outer portion of the boss in order to clamp the conduit end 9 within the aperture 8. In similar fashion the boss 7 is provided with an aperture 13 for the reception of a spaced end portion 14 of conduit 16. The boss '7 is also provided with a radial slot (not shown) which opens into the aperture 13 and a clamp 15 is employed to securely clamp the end portion 14 of the conduit it? within the aperture 13. This means of associating a speed responsive switch with a speedometer cable is described in detail in copending application Serial No. 399,990 filed December 23, 1953, in the names of James K. Gaylord, Lewis E. Thatcher and Paul T. Hahn.

The boss 6 is provided with an aperture 16 through which the speedometer cable 11 extends. In similar fashion the boss '7 is also provided with an aperture 17 through which the cable 11 extends. The interior of the boss 2 is provided with a relatively enlarged aperture 18 which connects with the aperture 16. In similar fashion the boss 7 is provided with an enlarged aperture 19 which connects with aperture 17. In this fashion provision is made for extending the cable 11 through the interior of the container 1.

A tubular sleeve 20 is positioned within the apertures 13 and 19 and is adapted to be rotatable in said apertures. A spring clamp 22 is interposed between cable 11 and the interior of the sleeve 20 whereby said sleeve is rigidly secured to the cable. Thus, when the cable rotates in response to translatory motion of the automotive vehicle the tubular sleeve rotates within apertures 18 and 19. A collar 23 is loosely positioned upon the exterior of the sleeve 2% above boss 2. A pair of pins 24 are diametrically positioned upon the outer wall of the sleeve 2% and extend outwardly from said wall. The sleeve 23 is provided with two opposite recesses 25, said recesses each having tapered defining edges 26 which terminate in curved portions 27 at their lower edges. The defining edges 26 of the recesses 25 function essentially as cam surfaces and are adapted for engagement with the oppositely extending pins 24. Thus, when the cable 11 is rotated thereby rotating sleeve 20 the pins 24 engaging in the recesses 25 rotate the collar 23.

A vane 28 is rigidly secured to collar 23 by means of arm 29. An annular disc 30, constructed of electrically conductive material is positioned at the bottom of the annular space 3 within the container 1. A buss bar 31 is connected to the disc 30 and extends exteriorly of the container 1. The sheath or conduit which houses the speedometer cable 11 is grounded as indicated at 32 in Fig. 1. The arrangement is such that when the speedometer cable 11 is stationary, the lower edge or" vane 28 makes electrical contact with the upper face of the disc 30. The buss bar 31 is connected to an electric circuit including a source of voltage (not shown) which in turn is grounded. Thus, a complete electrical circuit is established since the vane 28, collar 23, sleeve 20, cable 11 and sheath It) are grounded.

When cable 11 is stationary the lower edge of the vane 28 makes contact with the upper face of the disc 3% as has been hereinbefore described. When the parts are in this position the pins 24 carried by the sleeve are positioned adjacent the lines of intersection of the cam edges 26, that is, the pins 24 are relatively positioned at the upper portion of the recesses 25.

A non-conductive liquid 33 is positioned in the space 2 above the plate 3%. When the cable lli rotates, the collar 23 is driven by the engagement of the pins 24 with one or the other of the cam surfaces 26 depending upon the direction of rotation. It can readily be seen that the rotation of the vane 28 in the liquid 33 imparts to the vane 28 a resistance which acts circularly with respect to the movement of the vane. This resistance, in turn, is imparted to the collar 23 and hence a thrust is exerted by the surfaces 26 upon pin 24. This thrust resolves itself into an axial movement of the collar 23 upon sleeve 20 and hence vane 28 is raised within the annular space 3 thereby breaking contact between the lower edge of the vane and the plate 36. In this fashion the electric circuit between buss bar 31 and ground 32 is broken and hence the external circuit (not shown) is broken.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawing a modified form of a vane-supporting collar is shown. The reference numeral 34 indicates a collar, similar to collar 23 in that it is adapted to loosely embrace sleeve 20. The collar 34 carries a vane 35 which is rigidly secured to the collar by arm 36. Collar 34 is provided with oppositely disposed apertures 37 and 38 which are of similar shape, the upper .portion of each of the apertures being defined by oppositely inclined cam edges 39. The inclined edges 39 are similar to the edges 26 except that the lower portions of the edges 39 join with edge 40 whereby the apertures 37 and 38 are respectively completely defined as opposed to the open recesses of collar 25.

The collar 34 is adapted to be associated with sleeve 20 in the manner hereinbefore described in conjunction with collar .23 and the opposite pins 24 are adapted to engage the edges 39 to axially move the collar 34 when the sleeve 20 is rotated.

in both collars 23 and collar 34 one vane is carried. It is to be understood that, if desired, one or more vanes may be used with each collar. If more than one vane is employed the vanes will contact the disc in parallel and will simultaneously break contact with the disc 36} when the sleeve 20 is rotated at a predetermined speed.

For convenience in mounting the switch, a mounting plate 41 may be employed which, if desired, may be formed integral with the container 1, the plate being provided with apertures 42 whereby the switch may be mounted upon a supporting wall. The switch is preferably mounted vertically, that is, with disc 30 disposed horizontally and s1eeve20 disposed vertically. However, the switch will operate satisfactorily when it is inclined to the vertical so long as gravity functions to urge the collar 23 downwardly so that vane 28 makes contact with disc 30'when sleeve '20 is stationary.

We claim as our invention:

1. An electric switch responsive to the rotary speed of a body which comprises, a substantially cup-shaped container, electrically conductive means disposed in and carried by said container, said container being adapted to contain a quantity of non-conductive fluid above said conductive means, rotatable means positioned in said container and being rotatable about an axis disposed at an angle to said conductive means, said rotatable means being rotated by said body, a collar axially movable upon said rotatable means, a pin carried by said rotatable means, cam means carried by said collar engageable with said pin whereby said collar is moved axially upon said rotatable means when said collar is acted upon by a predetermined tangential force, and a vane rigidly carried by said collar which extends into said non-conductive fluid, said vane being in contact with said conductive means when said rotatable means is stationary and is moved away from said conductive means to break said contact when the non-conductive fluid offers a predetermined resistance to movement of said vane when said rotatable means is rotated.

2. An electric switch responsive to the rotary speed of a body which comprises, a substantially cup-shaped container, electrically conductive means disposed in and carried by said container, said container being adapted to contain a quantity of non-conductive fluid above said conductive means, a collar rotatably positioned in said container, cam means for connecting said collar to said rotating body whereby said collar rotates with said body and is axially movable relative to said body when a predetermined tangential .force is applied to said collar, a vane rigidly carried by said collar which extends into said non-conductive fluid and makes electrical contact with said conductive means when said body is stationary, said vane being moved away from said conductive means to break said contact when the non-conductive fluid oflers a predetermined resistance to rotary movement of said vane when said body rotates.

3. An electric switch responsive to the rotary speed of a body which comprises, a substantially cup-shaped container, an electrically conductive disc carried by and disposed in the lower portion of said container, said container being adapted to contain a quantity of non-conductive fluid above said disc, rotatable means positioned in said container and being rotatable about an axis disposed at substantially right-angles to said disc, said rotatable means being rotated by said body, a collar axially movable upon said rotatable means, cam means carried by said rotatable means, cooperating cam means carried by said collar engageable with said first-mentioned cam means whereby said collar is moved axially upon said rotatable means when said collar is acted upon by a pretedermined tangential force, and a vane rigidly carried by said collar which extends into said non-conductive fluid, said vane being in contact with said disc when said rotatable means is stationary and is moved away from said disc to break said contact when the non-conductive fluid offers a predetermined resistance to rotary movement of said vane when said rotating means is rotated.

4. An electric switch responsive to the rotary speed of a body which comprises, a container, an electrically conductive disc disposed in said container, said container being adapted to carry a quantity of non-conductive fluid above said disc, a rotatable sleeve positioned in said container and being rotatable about an axis disposed at an angle to said disc, means rigidly connecting said sleeve and said body, a collar axially movable upon said sleeve, a cam follower carried by said sleeve, cam means carried by said collar engageable with said cam follower whereby said collar is moved axially upon said sleeve when said collar is acted upon by a predetermined tangential force, and a vane rigidly carried by said collar which extends into said non-conductive fluid, said vane being in contact with said disc when said sleeve is stationary and is moved away from said disc to break said contact-when the non-conductive fluid offers a predetermined resistance to rotary movement of said vane when said sleeve is-rotated by said body.

5. An electric switch responsive to the rotary speed of a body which comprises, a container, an electrically conductive disc disposed in said container, said container being adapted to carry a quantity of non-conductive fluid above said disc, a rotatable sleeve positioned in said container and being rotatable about an axis disposed at an angle to said disc, means rigidly connecting said sleeve and said body, a collar axially movable upon said sleeve, a cam follower carried by said sleeve, cam means carried by said collar engageable with said cam follower whereby said collar is moved axially upon said sleeve when said collar is acted upon by a predetermined tangential force, and a vane rigidly carried by said collar which extends into said non-conductive fluid, said vane being in contact with said disc when said sleeve is stationary and is moved away from said disc to break said contact when the nonconductive fluid offers a predetermined resistance to rotary movement of said vane when said sleeve is rotated by said body and means for connecting said disc and said vane to an electric circuit.

6. An electric switch responsive to the rotary speed of a body which comprises, a container, an electrically conductive disc disposed in said container, said container being adapted to contain a quantity of non-conductive fluid above said disc, a rotatable sleeve positioned in said container and being rotatable about an axis disposed at an angle to said disc, said sleeve being rotated by said body, a collar axially movable upon said sleeve, a pin carried by said sleeve, said collar being provided with a recess partially defined by inclined edges with which said pin is engageable whereby said collar is moved axially upon said sleeve when said collar is acted upon by a predetermined tangential force, and a vane rigidly carried by said collar which extends into said non-conductive fluid, said vane being in contact with said disc when said sleeve is stationary and is moved away from said disc to break said contact when the non-conductive fluid offers a predetermined resistance to movement of said vane when said sleeve is rotated.

Brandt May 11, 1943 Ambrose Oct. 17, 1950 

